(Spirit) Sitting Bull, Chief of the Sioux, 1831-1890

R Stiles, Kate

Sitting Bull's message from spirit life

This book made available by the Internet Archive.

NOTE.

" And I heard a voice, saying: ' Write what the Spirit saith unto the people.'" We have written; and now send the message forth on its mission. In doing so we are well aware that its authenticity as a communication from Sitting Bull will doubtless be questioned by two classes of people.

The first to question it will probably be those who declare that there is no possibility of communication between the so-called, " two worlds;" and that, therefore, there is no such thing as modern inspiration.

Another class of critics will be found among those, who, while they concede the fact of spiritual inspiration, will say — "Sitting Bull was not a poet, and hence would not have put his message into rhyme."

In reply to the first class of objectors to the claim of the Spirit, we shall simply state that we know that we are in daily communication with those who have " shufiied off the mortal coil," and that we often come under the inspiration of their loving thoughts.

To those who may say that the Spirit could not have dictated a rythmical communication, we answer : How know you that Sitting Bull was not a poet ? True, he may never have written or spoken

his thought in rhyme; yet the Indian's prose expressions are often full of the sublimest poetry.

Sitting Bull was aided in the dictation of his message by a spirit poet, who was ever a champion of human rights, and who, while in the physical form, often wielded his pen in behalf of the oppressed Indian nation.

We are told that there are two reasons why the message of the Spirit has been sent forth in this rythmical garb; one of which is that the Spirit who assisted Sitting Bull felt that it might prove more attractive, and make a deeper impression upon the minds of those who peruse it.

We are also told, that, our own nature being somewhat poetic, our brain more readily responds to rythmical measure, and hence the thoughts given by Sitting Bull could be more easily impressed when clothed in this manner.

That some good may follow from the publication of this communication, is the sincere hope of Sitting Bull's humble, yet willing scribe,

Kate R. Stiles.

'A

43 Dwight Street, Boston.

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SITTING BULL'S MESSAGE.

Sitting Bull, the Chief, returneth.

Though a Spirit, he still yearneth

Over his beloved nation,

Still he feeleth obligation

Toward the Indian tribes and races;

Therefore he unto pale faces

Cometh, with strong words of pleading.

Through another interceding

For his hapless, hopeless brothers.

For the poor, dejected mothers

Who sit daily moaning, crying,

With their children round them dying.

Though his message he conveyeth

Through another, yet he prayeth

That the people who peruse it

Will not scoff at, or abuse it,

Will not say there is no merit

In the message of a Spirit

Through another brain transmitted.

The Great Father hath permitted

Those who pass beyond Death's portals

To approach their fellow mortals

And make known to them their feeling.

Thus comes Sitting Bull appealing,

Sending forth his supplication

To the chief men of the nation,

To the great men in high places,

That the Indian tribes and races

Be accorded fairer dealing,—

This he asks with kindly feeling.

He for justice only, pleadeth,

That the bread his people needeth

To sustain them from starvation

Be supplied them by the nation.

From their lands have they been driven,

And with faces shrunken, shriven.

Have they wandered forth, unsightly,—

Wandered daily, wandered nightly.

Vainly seeking for protection.

Oh ! the sadness, the dejection

Of a race thus doomed to wander.

Sitting Bull long years did ponder

O'er the direful situation.

Oft he sat in contemplation,

Through the long night watches, lonely.

SITTING BULL S MESSAGE.

In his heart was one thought only,— How to hft the Indian nation, From their woe and degradation. He for Ught was ever calHng; Yet the darkness, so appalling. Sent him back no answer'ng token. All unrifted, all unbroken. Did the heavy cloud hang o'er him. Walk beside him, move before him. Heavy was his heart with groaning. Sore became his breast from moaning. Sore and weary with his sighing. When he saw his people dying For the bread from them withholden. It did all his thought embolden. And within him woke the spirit That the red man doth inherit From his fathers gone before him. Yea, it seemed they did bend o'er him, And did whisper their monition — Urged him to demand rendition Of the lands and bread belonging To his people round him thronging. This he sought, through arbitration. To accomplish for his nation. But the Government, unheeding.

Listened not unto his pleading;

Or, while listening, failed in action,

And he gained no satisfaction.

What remained then, O pale faces,

For the Indian tribes and races,

But to seek revenge in battle —

In its dreadful din and rattle?

Sitting Bull to white man sayeth,

Wonder not the red man slayeth

When he sees his people stricken.

Sees his sons and daughters sicken.

Sees them fainting, falling, dying,

For the bread he is denying.

Long the red man's blood had bounded

With injustice, ere he sounded

War's dread tocsin. Had white nation

But fulfilled its obligation.

Made for red man intervention.

There had been no dark contention.

With the white man lies the error

Of the turmoil and the terror

That hath siezed upon the nation.

With him rests the obligation.

Will the lesson sore be heeded ?

And will justice be conceded

To the Indian tribes and races

SITTING BULL S MESSAGE.

By their brothers, the pale faces ? Or will they by deeds unholy Still oppress the red man, lowly? Will he still be driven, driven, Naked, hungry, shrunken, shriven? Will the white man still pursue him. Taking what belongeth to him. Leaving him in destitution ? Then, O pale face, restitution Must you make for wrongs committed,-Justice ne'er can be outwitted. Man may plot and rob his brother. But in one sphere or another He the " utmost farthing " payeth. This the law of Justice sayeth. This the white man's Bible teacheth, From this text he often preacheth. Sitting Bull oft heard it quoted,— But its spirit had not noted. He but listened to the letter,— White man doeth no whit better. He, too, listens to the reading. But gives to it little heeding. Speaketh Sitting Bull too boldly? Yet not bitterly, or coldly, He the word of truth declareth.

lO SITTING BULLS MESSAGE.

Truth is ever bold! it spareth

None to whom it makes appealing;

But, while wounding, it gives healing,

Giveth ever where it taketh,

Bindeth wheresoe'er it breaketh.

Though his written word sharp stingeth,

Sitting Bull no malice bringeth

From the Hunting-grounds of Spirit.

The quick blood he did inherit

Floweth now more calmly, slowly;

Therefore cometh he more lowly,

In a spirit of contrition.

Gone is all his proud ambition,

Gone his bitterness and hatred,-—

All his anger hath been sated.

From the people long departed.

They, the wise ones, the large-hearted.

Hath he learned a kindlier feeling,

Therefore cometh he appealing

For the good of every nation.

True, with stronger obligation

Turns he to the Indian races.

Yet he seeth that pale faces

Are in bondage and oppression.

Even they have not possession

Of the rights belonging to them.

Of the freedom that is clue them.

What shall rend the cloud asunder,

That the nations now sit under,—

The dark cloud, that sore oppresseth ?

Sitting Bull with pain confesseth

That far distant seems the dawning

Of that glad, redemption morning

Pictured oft in ancient story,—

Not yet seeth he its glory.

Yet, while far the time appeareth,

There is still one sign that cheereth;

He beholdeth every nation

In a state of agitation.

This a better time presages

For mankind in coming ages.

Sitting Bull sees by this token

That the yoke shall yet be broken.

That now resteth on his nation.

And they gain full liberation.

It is coming, O pale faces,—

Freedom for the Indian races!

Though the white man's power seem stronger.

Comes a day when he no longer

Can misuse the Indian nation.

Even now, with indignation

Is his hot blood doubly heated.

And indignities repeated

Will but make him more miruly;

Do not anger him unduly.

He not easily is sated,

Not soon is his wrath abated,

Not soon doth he make retraction

When he hath been roused to action.

Sitting Bull sends forth his warning,-

To be met, no doubt, with scorning;

Such as oft to him was meted

When for justice he entreated.

Yet hath he no motive, other

Than to save his pale faced brother,

And the Indian tribes and races,

From the conflict that disgraces.

And alike unto each nation

Bringeth woe and desolation.

Sitting Bull the " oil of healing "

Fain would pour on wounded feeling

Of his stricken sons and daughters,—

Fain would calm the troubled waters

By which they are now surrounded.

He, with love that is unbounded,

Saith unto them. Education

Is your only sure salvation

From the evils that surround you,

SITTING BULLS MESSAGE.

From the ills that long have bound you.

Oh, then, rouse! put forth endeavor!

To injustice grant no favor;

But, all bitterness eschewing,

Labor for the full undoing

Of the ignorance of ages.

Back of you are seers and sages,

Back of you your long gone sires,—

These shall help you light the fires

Of a noble, true ambition,

That in time shall yield fruition.

With the fathers, gone before you.

Are your mothers, they who bore you;

They, their past rude life ignoring.

Now return to you, imploring

That you rise from degradation

And become a noble nation.

Urge with kindness the pale faces

To accord you better places.

Better lands and reservations —

Then fulfil your obligations.

Plough and sow, and you shall gather —

' Tis the law of the Great Father;

And while it remains unheeded

Will the bread of life be needed.

Gain that comes to him that worketh.

Cometh not to him that shirketh.

Not to him that idly sigheth,

But to him whose feet swift flieth

Is the race at length accorded,

And the golden prize awarded.

Listen ! my beloved nation,

To the earnest exhortation

Sitting Bull brings from your sires.

Dance no longer round your fires.

Thinking thus to woo the sages.

The Messiahs of past ages !

All your forms have no attraction

For these souls of earnest action.

But in every true endeavor

Will they aid and guide you, ever.

And, O pale face, more enlightened,

Be not anxious, be not frightened.

When you see the red man dancing,

' Round his camp fires wildly prancing ;

' Tis his mode of invocation.

White man maketh supplication

When and wheresoe'er he chooseth.

Yet the privilege refuseth

To his poor, untutored brother,

Who at present knows no other

Way to ease his burdened feeling.

Than by this rude, wild appeaUng. Would you lift him to your station, Pale face, give him education: Not the kind that comes from preaching, Or from praying — but the teaching That results from observation. Give him this, O pale faced nation. By allowing him to enter Every business mart and centre That is open to pale faces. Why not he, like other races. Be accorded free admission, Come and go without permission ? The Great Father who created Red and white man hath not stated That the red man's claim be bounded. Nay! in liberty was founded Life for every tribe and nation : Bondage bringeth degradation. Therefore Sitting Bull now prayeth That whene'er the red man strayeth From his lands and reservations Unto those of other nations. He be kindly met and treated — Kindness would in turn be meted — For the red man hath deep feeling.

lb SITTING BULLS MESSAGE.

And love maketh strong appealing

To his nature deeply hidden.

Should he sometimes come unbidden,

Or with rudeness seek to enter

The dominions where you centre

As a great and mighty nation,

Do not flee in consternation;

Let him view your ways and measures.

Look upon your arts and treasures;

It would quicken his ambition.

Help to change his sad condition,—

This the teaching red' man needeth.

Seldom is it that he readeth

Of what goeth on around him.

White man's laws so close have bound him,

That he knoweth not nor heedeth

How the world about him speedeth.

Sitting Bull the white man heareth,

Making answer, that he feareth

The red man would sore abuse him,

Were he from his bonds to loose him.

Nay! were red man's wrongs adjusted,

He could be as safely trusted

As can any other nation.

Red man feels deep obligation.

For a kindness to him meted.

Rarely, save when illy treated

Doth the Indian rob and plunder,

And break white man's laws asunder.

Give him liberty, pale faces,

As accorded other races.

And he would become a nation

Purged from crime and degradation !

Sitting Bull his plea hath ended. Though not all by him intended Hath he through his scribe transmitted. Should his message, thus submitted To the people, be rejected. Be despised and be neglected. He hath filled his obligation. Henceforth he his loving station Holdeth near his people, stricken. He will watch by those who sicken, He will whisper to the dying Of a land where is no sighing. Of a land where plenty reigneth. Where no cold nor hunger paineth. Where the white man and red brother Dwell in peace with one another. Thus will he impress and guide them, Though they know not that beside them

Sitting Bull, their chief, still walketh,

And that with them still he talketh.

Though his outward form be hidden,

He -will come and go unbidden,

Working_for the elevation

Of his poor, down-trodden nation.

This is Sitting Bull's desire,

' Tis his Heaven ! he seeks none hig-her.

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Content

(Spirit) Sitting Bull, Chief of the Sioux, 1831-1890, et al Sitting Bull's message from spirit life